As Serena Williams made her way out to the Australian Open's main court during pre-match introductions, the voice booming over the stadium's speakers implored spectators to welcome "the world's No. 1 player — from Romania, Simona Halep."

The youngest member of the national women’s open touch team, Emele Elizabeth Paletasala (19), gave her family all the credit for her sporting success. Paletasala, of Vaitele-uta, was named by coach Geoff Hooper in his squad for the World Cup in Malaysia in May.

If this was it for Andy Murray, if this truly was it, he gave himself — and an appreciative, raucous crowd that included his mother and brother — quite a gutsy goodbye, the type of never-give-in performance he's famous for.